creating & influencing public policy

James Kaplan, SCSM, has nearly 30 years of experience in the shopping center business, as an owner, developer, and property manager and leasing representative for both private and institutional ownerships.

Jim also has 15 years of active, hands-on experience in government affairs involving the shopping center industry. He was an original member of Mayor Richard J. Daley’s “Retail Chicago” advisory panel. He’s a past International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), state and divisional government affairs chair, veteran participant in the Congressional Contacts program, current member of the Economic Affairs subcommittee and long time advocate of extending ICSC’s reach to the state and local level. Jim was also one of the original driving forces behind the creation of the ICSC Alliance Program, an initiative which serves to unite the interests of the shopping center community, planners, and municipalities. Outside of ICSC, he has served on Technical Assistance Panels sponsored by the Urban Land Institute (ULI), working to help communities explore alternatives for esthetic and economic improvement and as a member of the Campaign For Sensible Growth, a coalition of government, civic, and business organizations. On the “other side,” he has served on municipal workshops and advisory task forces.

Jim has authored numerous articles on a variety of industry issues, participated on various seminar panels, provided testimony as an “industry expert”, served as a lecturer and instructor for industry sponsored educational programs. He knows how to organize ideas and to effectively convey them to an audience, whether it be one-on-one with a member of Congress, a municipal board, a roundtable of 10, or a meeting room of hundreds.

He is respected and well known, with a bulging electronic rolodex and excellent industry relationships. He can help you convey your message and achieve your objectives.